Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy is an Indian blind cricketer, motivational speaker and government bank employee. He has played in many tournaments and has also captained the Indian Blind Cricket Team to win several Blind Cricket World Cups and Blind T20 World Cups. He became popular after becoming the recipient of the Arjuna Award in 2023.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Iluri Ajay Kumar Reddy was born on Sunday, 3 June 1990 (age 33 years; as of 2024) in Macherla, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. Their zodiac sign is Gemini. When he was four years old, he met with an accident when a doorknob went inside his left eye. He had surgery; However, due to the spread of the infection, he later lost all the vision in his left eye and also lost the vision in his right eye. When he turned twelve, he started having problems with studies, after which his parents, on the advice of his teachers, enrolled him in Lutheran High School for the Blind, Narasaraopeta in 2002. He first came to know about blind cricket when he was studying in a blind school. Although he wanted to be a soldier, he gave up his dream of serving in the Indian Army due to his disability, later he heard that Pakistan defeated India in the Blind World Cup, which made him angry and he wanted to take revenge from India. Decided to become a cricketer. Lost and later became a professional cricketer. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Sports and Exercise from Aliya Government Junior College, Hyderabad, affiliated to Osmania University, from 2008 to 2011. He also has a bachelor’s degree in Telugu literature from Nizam College, Hyderabad.
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 10″
Weight (Approx): 70 kg
Hair Color: Black
Family
He belongs to a Telugu family.
parents and siblings
His parents were farmers. There is not much information about siblings.
Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy’s parents
wife and children
He is married and has a daughter and a son.
Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy with his wife and daughter
livelihood
Cricket
domestic
His friend G Nageswara Rao encouraged him to pursue a career in cricket. Rao took Ajay Reddy to Hyderabad in 2006 where Ajay was selected for the blind Andhra Pradesh state team.
international
Iluri Ajay Kumar Reddy was selected for the Indian Blind ODI cricket team for the first time in 2010 and made his debut in the series against England. He made his T20 debut in 2012 and became the vice-captain of the team during the 2012 Blind T20 World Cup and helped captain Shekhar Naik win the tournament by defeating Pakistan in the final.
Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy (wearing glasses) during his early cricket playing years
He later helped the Indian team win the 2014 Blind Cricket World Cup. He became the captain of the Indian team in 2016 and led them to win the inaugural edition of the Blind T20 Asia Cup in 2016. He was the leading wicket-taker with 9 wickets in the 2017 Blind T20 World Cup, which was won by India.
Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy with Narendra Modi after winning the 2017 Blind T20 World Cup
He later captained the team to win the 2018 Blind Cricket World Cup (40 overs). Under his captaincy, India completed the hat-trick of T20 World Cup wins by winning the 2022 Blind T20 World Cup.
Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy after winning the 2022 Blind T20 World Cup
At the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Games 2023 held in Edgbaston, Birmingham, he led the team to win a silver medal in the men’s T20 event. He has won over 80 Man of the Match awards and over 50 Man of the Series awards. On 9 January 2024, he was awarded the Arjuna Award by the then Indian President Draupadi Murmu.
Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy with the trophy
government bank employee
After completing his graduation, Iluri Ajay Kumar Reddy became a clerk at State Bank of Hyderabad (SBH), which merged with State Bank of India (SBI) in 2017. In May 2020, he was promoted to the position of Deputy Manager.
Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy speaking at a meeting at his bank
award, honor
- Jury Special Recognition Award in Men’s Sports Category at Sakshi Excellence Awards 2017
Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy (far right) receiving the Jury Special Recognition Award
- All India Civil Services Championship in 2018, awarded by Government of Andhra Pradesh
Iluri Ajay Kumar Reddy being honored by All India Civil Services Championship
- Cricketer of the Year in B2 category for 2018-19 by Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI)
- Arjuna Award for 2023
January 9, 2024: Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy receiving the Arjuna Award from the President of India Draupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
pony
Ajay has got a cricket heart beat tattoo on his forearm.
Iluri Ajay Kumar Reddy’s tattoo
salary/income
In an interview in 2023, he had revealed that when he plays for India, he gets Rs 3000 per match.
Facts/General Knowledge
- His batting style is right-arm, and his bowling style is right-arm fast. He mostly plays as a top-order batsman and wicketkeeper. His favorite shot is sweep shot.
Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy doing wicketkeeping during the match
- As of January 2024, Iluri Ajay Kumar Reddy belongs to B2 (clear vision up to 6 metres) category; However, he revealed in an interview that he was also gradually losing the vision in his right eye, and that if he did not find a good doctor, he might have to move to the B1 (almost blind) category.
- He said in an interview that blind cricketers play for India and have won many World Cups; However, people treat them with sympathy rather than giving them any recognition. He also said that visually impaired cricketers should also be given proper financial assistance.
Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy (right) posing with the trophy during a photoshoot.
- When Ajay was a child, his parents ran an idli-dosa stall to make ends meet while Ajay was in hostel. He thought his parents were abandoning him, and he came back to his home to help his parents. He used to clean utensils and serve tea and dosa to customers. He sometimes faced problems due to lack of proper vision and during that time he was also misbehaved by some customers.
- He is a member of an NGO named Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, which provided him financial support during his growing up years.
- Iluri Ajay Kumar Reddy often gives motivational talks in various schools and colleges and tries to inspire people with disabilities to aim for something bigger in their lives.
Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy during a motivational speech
- He credited his parents as his support system. Ajay said that his father also had vision problems and did not earn much; However, he always catered to his every need and provided him with cricket equipment.
- When he went to Hyderabad in 2006 to give trials for the state team, he lied to his parents that he was going to study at his friend’s house because he was afraid that his parents would not allow him. He also thanked his college principal in an interview because the principal had given him attendance when Ajay was busy playing cricket tournaments.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn